Particle.news
Download on the App Store
3 ARTICLES
·
2h ago

All U.S. Military Branches Meet FY2025 Recruiting Goals as Navy Logs Biggest Class Since Early 2000s

Service leaders cite targeted reforms that streamlined recruiting.

FILE - Navy recruits march in formation at Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, Ill., March 27, 2012. (U.S. Navy photo by Sue Krawczyk)
FILE - Army soldiers hosted a recruitment booth in Hutchinson, Kansas, Sept. 9, 2023. (U.S. Army Reserve photo by Pfc. Aiden Griffitts)
All branches of the U.S. military have hit their recruiting goals for the first time in four years. An expert in military recruitment and readinesscredited an increased visibility of the military and wider job trends with boosting recruiting and retention. (MICHAEL PROBTS/AP FILE)
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks to senior military leaders at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025 in Quantico, Va. (Andrew Harnik/Pool via AP)

Overview

  • The Navy reported 44,096 accessions for fiscal 2025, its highest total since the early 2000s, after declaring it had met its goal months earlier.
  • Officials credited modernized marketing, streamlined administrative steps, expanded age eligibility, more recruiters, and preparatory courses with driving the rebound.
  • Navy process fixes included slashing average tattoo-approval time from about 30 days to roughly 2.7 days and reducing paperwork while giving recruiters more local input.
  • Recruit quality concerns persist, with about 17% of recruits scoring 30% or below on the AFQT and the Department of War’s inspector general faulting the Navy for improperly documenting medical-waiver changes that yielded 5,845 accessions.
  • The Army reported 111% of its goal as of August, overall active-duty strength rose to roughly 1.3 million, and researchers warn sustainability is constrained by a small eligible youth pool as War Secretary Pete Hegseth presses stricter fitness standards for combat roles.